Starring:(shown on the ride-in)
John McIntire as Clay Grainger
Doug McClure as Trampas (not in this episode)
David Hartman as David Sutton
Sara Lane as Elizabeth Grainger (not in this episode)
and
James Drury as The Virginian

Series regular characters appearing in this episode: Featuring the
Virginian and David Sutton with brief appearances by Clay and Holly Grainger
and occasionally recurring character Seth Petit

Synopsis:
The Shiloh cattle herd is infected with anthrax, and the local ranchers are
threatening to destroy it. But Clay is expecting vaccine to arrive on the
stage and asks his neighbors for just a little time. However, when an
injured man identifying himself as a bounty hunter named Walker (Campanella)
"barges in" to the house, Clay soon learns that the coach and everything on
it had been abducted by the Colten gang. Walker, who has taken Johnny
Colten's woman Ruby (Justice) prisoner, is hot on the outlaws' trail
and wants to buy fresh horses to continue his chase. Due to the urgency of
retrieving the vaccine, the Virginian and David insist on accompanying them.
The search takes the four riders to the mysterious--and dangerous--town of
Misadventure where the residents live by two rules: "Mind your own business
and ask
no questions" and "We respect the property of others no matter how they come
by it." But the Virginian is able to obtain information from a bar girl
(Werle) who has a reason to want Colten's gang arrested. The group heads
for an old fort where there is more at stake than the missing vaccine, and
Walker's participation in the hunt takes a strange turn when the Virginian
and the outlaws meet for a showdown.

Note regarding the Virginian: The compassionate side of this character is
noticeable in this episode as he shows concern for Ruby when she talks about
her past. He also takes off his coat and wraps it around her after she
complains of being cold and hugs her to try to console her. His loyalty to
the Graingers and to his job is evident when he won't be seduced by the bar
girl because he knows time's running out and he must find the vaccine or
Shiloh's herd will be destroyed. When David, who was woozy after being hit
on the head, walks into gunfire the foreman risks his life to rescue him.
But always the boss, as the group arrives at the fort he insists things be
done his way--they will try to capture the outlaws alive because there has
already been too much killing.(bj)